Category Archives: Chilavert

So, when considering the footballing greats, why not choose a goalkeeper with the knack of scoring goals?There is a widely held belief that all goalkeepers are mad. There is also a theory that they are, at heart, frustrated outfield players.Yashin would come out of the box to sweep up behind his defenders, Schmeichel would go up for corners, Higuita would join his outfield colleagues, sometimes with disastrous consequences, Ramón ‘El Loco’ Quiroga was equally rash in his excursions from the penalty area, but Chilavert…

As well as being solid between the sticks, Paraguayan José Luis Félix Chilavert González also had a reputation for banging them in. he was a free kick specialist as well as a regular penalty taker. Consequently he has a record 62 career goals, a goal every eight games.Chilavert was also known for his eccentricity and at times fiery temper; during a qualifying game for the 2002 World Cup, he spat on Brazil’s Roberto Carlos. He also angered the Paraguayan government by refusing to take part in the Copa America of 1999, as he claimed the funding would be better used for education.Chilavert played most of his football in Argentina with Vélez Sársfield, helping them win the Argentine championship four times as well as the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup, both in 1994He was voted World Goalkeeper of the Year by the IFFHS in 1995, 1997, and 1998.In 1996 he was named South American player of the year- the only goalkeeper to win this accolade.

FIFA named Chilavert on the France ’98 tournament All Star Squad.

1999, he became the first goalkeeper to score a hat-trick in the history of football, while playing for Vélez against Ferro Carril Oeste, scoring all three goals through penalties. He also scored a memorable free-kick from behind the half-way line against River Plate.He has 74 international caps for Paraguay and an impressive 8 international goals